About Portside ART Institute

Creativity. Learning. Connection. Community.

Welcome to Portside ART Institute — a creative education and community-based learning organization located in beautiful Port Stanley, Ontario.

Portside was created around a simple idea: people learn, grow and connect in many different ways.

Sometimes we learn through a classroom. Sometimes through making something with our hands, performing, playing, exploring, volunteering, or participating in our community. Portside creates opportunities for people to discover those different pathways.

Our programs bring together creativity, experiential learning, expressive arts, recreation and community participation to create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.

Our Mission

Portside ART Institute provides creative education, community-based learning, expressive arts, recreation, respite and facilitator education that encourage creativity, participation, connection and personal growth.

We believe learning doesn’t have to look the same for everyone.

Our goal is to create welcoming environments where people can explore their interests, develop skills, build confidence, connect with others and experience the satisfaction of being part of something.

Our Vision

We envision communities where everyone has opportunities to create, learn, participate and belong.

Portside seeks to create spaces where creativity is valued, learning is experiential, and community participation is accessible to people with diverse interests, abilities and experiences.

Leadership & Program Team

The People Behind Portside

Portside ART Institute is guided by a collaborative leadership team committed to creating opportunities for creativity, learning, participation and community connection.

Our programs are developed and delivered by people who bring different experiences, skills and perspectives to the Portside community.

Executive Directors

Dr. Laurie Ponsford-Hill

Executive Director

Laurie provides leadership in organizational development, education, program development and community initiatives at Portside ART Institute.

Christie Osbourne

Executive Director

Christie contributes to the leadership and development of Portside’s programs, community initiatives and organizational direction.

Emerald Hill

Executive Director

Emerald contributes to Portside’s creative programming, community initiatives, performance and organizational development.

Together, the Executive Directors provide shared leadership for the development and direction of Portside ART Institute.

Program Leadership

The Comedy House

Emerald Hill

Comedy Program Lead

Shane Barnard

Comedy Program Lead

Emerald and Shane lead the development of The Comedy House, Portside’s expressive arts initiative focused on comedy, performance, creative learning and community connection.

Their work includes the development of comedy programming, performance opportunities, comedy education and community events, including the Port Stanley Comedy Festival.

Creative Recreation & Respite

Shane Barnard

Respite Program Lead

Shane leads the development and coordination of Portside’s creative recreation and respite programming.

This area of Portside provides opportunities for meaningful recreation, creative participation, community engagement and respite for individuals and families.

One Portside, Many Ways to Participate

Our leadership and program teams work together to create opportunities across Portside’s areas of service and learning.

From creative education and community-based learning to expressive arts, comedy, recreation and respite, our goal remains the same:

Create opportunities for people to learn, connect, participate and belong.

Portside ART Institute

Creative Education • Community • Expression • Recreation • Respite

What We Do

Portside brings its work together through several areas:

Creative Education

We create opportunities to learn through creative and experiential approaches.

Programs may include workshops, courses, creative skill development and hands-on learning experiences.

Community-Based Learning

Learning doesn’t have to happen inside a traditional classroom.

Portside offers opportunities to learn through community participation, projects, events, collaboration and real-world experiences.

Expressive Arts

Creativity can take many forms.

Through expressive arts, participants can explore art, storytelling, performance, comedy, music and other creative forms of expression.

The Comedy House, including the Port Stanley Comedy Festival, is one of Portside’s expressive arts initiatives.

Creative Recreation & Respite

Portside provides creative and recreational opportunities designed to encourage participation, enjoyment, connection and meaningful engagement.

Our respite programming provides opportunities for individuals and families to access creative recreation and community-based support.

Training & Certification

Portside provides education and certification opportunities for individuals interested in developing skills in facilitation and community-based programming.

Our training focuses on practical skills, experiential learning, safe program delivery and meaningful participant engagement.

Our Approach

At Portside, we value:

Creativity
We encourage people to explore ideas, interests and forms of expression.

Participation
Everyone should have opportunities to take part in meaningful activities and experiences.

Connection
Learning and creativity can bring people together and strengthen community.

Experiential Learning
We believe people often learn best by doing, exploring, practicing and reflecting.

Inclusion
Programs should create welcoming opportunities for people with diverse abilities, interests and experiences.

Community
Portside is rooted in community and seeks to build connections through shared experiences.

Play & Curiosity
There should be room to explore, experiment, laugh and try something new.

Who We Serve

Portside programs may be designed for:

• Children and youth
• Adults
• Families
• Community members
• Educators and community workers
• Emerging facilitators
• Community organizations
• Groups and organizations seeking creative learning experiences

Programs vary, and eligibility or participation requirements may apply to individual programs.

Portside & The Counselling House

Portside ART Institute and The Counselling House are distinct organizations with different areas of focus.

Portside ART Institute focuses on:

• Creative education
• Community-based learning
• Expressive arts
• Creative recreation
• Respite services
• Facilitation education and certification
• Community events and initiatives

The Counselling House focuses on:

• Counselling
• Psychotherapy
• Clinical mental health services
• Clinical supervision
• Psychotherapy-related education and training

While the two organizations may share a common commitment to wellbeing and community, their services and areas of practice are distinct.

Rooted in Port Stanley

Portside ART Institute is rooted in Port Stanley, Ontario, and is connected to the broader Elgin County community.

Our location inspires much of what we do. Portside is a place where people can come together to learn, create, explore and participate.

Through programs, workshops, community events and partnerships, we hope to contribute to a community where people have more opportunities to connect and belong.

Come Create With Us

Whether you want to learn something new, explore your creativity, participate in a community program, develop facilitation skills, attend an event, or simply find a new way to connect with others, there may be a place for you at Portside.

Explore our programs.

Discover your creativity.

Join the community.

Portside ART Institute

Create. Learn. Connect. Participate.